Water seepage into tunnel under control now, claims KMRCL
Kolkata: Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited (KMRCL) claimed on Thursday to have addressed the seepage of water into the tunnel at Bowbazar. 18 gold ornament shops were also opened in the area during the day.
"Building Assessment Committee (BAC) members have visited the site for the second time today. The seepage of water in the tunnel at Bowbazar is now normal. The settlement of land has been achieved," said KMRCL chief engineer (civil) Biswanath Dewanjee.
As a machine that was boring an East-West Metro tunnel in Bowbazar had hit a giant aquifer on August 31, water from the aquifer had flooded the tunnel and weakened the land surface.
A five-member BAC team had started categorising the buildings as per their extent of damage in Durga Pithuri Lane, Syakra Para Lane and Gour De Lane.
"78 buildings have suffered damages or developed cracks in the Bowbazar area. Residents of 16 houses in Durga Pithuri Lane were allowed to take their belongings from their houses today," said A K Nandy, general manager (Administration), KMRCL.
On Monday, a four-storey building situated at 8 B Syakra Para Lane had collapsed at around 9.45 am, adding to the list of 10 buildings that were partially or wholly damaged in the Bowbazar area.
BAC members have started health study of the buildings that can be restored as well as the ones that need to be demolished.
"18 gold ornament shops were allowed to open in the Bowbazar area. Electricity connection was also provided at these shops," Nandy stated.
686 residents living at Durga Pithuri Lane, Syakra Para Lane and Gour De Lane have been evacuated for safety reasons till now and have been shifted to different hotels across the city. The KMRCL has also started distributing cheques of Rs five lakh as compensation to the residents whose houses were damaged in the mishap. "19 people have been handed over the cheques last Saturday. Now onwards, we have decided to send the compensation amount directly to the bank accounts of the residents," said Nandy.
